The present invention relates to skiing equipment. In the following description and in the claims, this term is intended to include any equipment which allows the user to slide on snow clad slopes to practice any type of skiing discipline, such as, for example skis, snowboards and the like.

More precisely, the invention relates to equipment of the type comprising a resiliently deformable structure which is able to assume a variety of curved configurations in dependence on the dynamic actions which develop during use, and which is provided with means for damping its flexural vibrations.

Various systems have already been proposed which have the purpose of damping elastic oscillations of skis. In effect, flexural vibrations of skis represent an entirely unwanted phenomenon which, especially in use at high speed or on icy slopes, produces a loss of contact with the ground, a reduced capacity to hold to a curve, less control over the path of the equipment and impacts with the ground which increase the sliding friction.

Currently, state of the art industrial ski construction provides for different layers of materials such as wood, metal, thermoplastic materials, glass fibres, carbon fibres, thermosetting resins etc to be joined together, and utilises different parameters of resistance to flexion and torsion of each of the said materials to provide skis with given characteristics of elasticity and viscoelasticity capable of partly damping the flexural vibrations . Currently, the use of spacers (the so-called antivibration

plates) fitted to the centre of the ski, already widely- used in competitive alpine skiing, is being extended into the tourist and amateur sectors . These spacers or plates are not truly dampers and principally have the purpose of raising the boot binding from the ground to allow greater inclination in curves .

The present invention has the object of providing a system for damping flexural vibrations of skis, snowboards and the like, which is more effective than arrangements known up to no .

According to the present invention this object is achieved by the characteristics forming the subject of Claims 1 and 2.

The present invention is essentially based on the principal of providing a deformable chamber filled with a damping fluid and disposed in such a way that the variations in the configuration of the ski, snowboard or the like, produce corresponding variations in the form of at least part of the deformable chamber.

Thanks to this arrangement the variations in the geometry of the ski cause a movement of damping fluid within the deformable chamber. The work necessary for the displace¬ ment of the damping fluid causes a damping of the vibratio¬ nal motion of the ski . The magnitude of the damping can be varied at the design stage by a choice of the characteri¬ stics of the fluid or by providing restricted, possibly adjustable, flow cross-sections within the deformable chambe .

The system according to the present invention can be integrated into the structure of the ski, snowboard or the

like or can be formed as an accessory which can be fixed on to the upper surface of any known type of ski like one of the said plates, which make it possible to increase the distance between the boot and the ground. Alternatively, the accessory can be fixed forwardly or rearwardly of the bindings, without influencing them.

The vibration damping system according to the present invention may possibly be associated with an elastic device comprising one or more flat springs subject to a variable pre-loading, which allow variation in the rigidity chara¬ cteristics of the ski as well as its shape at rest.

The damping system according to the present invention behaves like a hydraulic or gas damper and acts to damp the elastic return oscillation after a flexing stress. One of the advantages of the system according to the invention is that it does not require the use of conventional piston-type dampers which would require mechanical members such as arms, levers or tie rods and would lead to a considerable increase in the weight and size of the ski. On the contrary, in the arrangement according to the present invention, both the weight and size of the ski can be kept to the same order of magnitude as those of a traditional type of ski, possibly provided with binding plates of average weight.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description given purely by way of non-limitative example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of a ski according to the present invention;

Figure 2 schematically illustrates the ski of

Figure 1 in a curved configuration;

Figures 3 to 5 are schematic transverse sections taken on the lines III-III, IV-IV and V-V of Figure 1;

Figures 6 to 8 are transverse sections similar to those of Figures 3 to 5, relating to the curved configura¬ tion of the ski of Figure 2 and taken on the lines VI-VI, VII-VII and VIII-VIII of Figure 2;

Figures 9 to 14 are transverse sections respecti¬ vely corresponding to those of Figures 3 to 8, relating to a ski with a different structure;

Figure 15 is a schematic longitudinal section illustrating a second embodiment of a ski according to the present invention;

Figure 16 is a plan view of the ski of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a plan view of a snowboard provided with a system according to the invention;

Figure 18 is a section taken on the line XVIII- XVIII of Figure 17;

Figures 19 and 20 are partial longitudinal sections of a ski according to the invention provided with a device for adjusting the flexural rigidity, in two different adjustment positions;

Figures 21 and 22 are transverse sections taken respectively along the lines XXI-XXI and XXII-XXII of Figures 19 and 20;

Figure 23 schematically illustrates an accessory which can be applied to a ski, provided with a damping system according to the invention;

Figure 24 is a schematic section taken on the line XXIV-XXIV of Figure 23;

Figure 25 is a constructional variant of the equipment illustrated in Figure 24;

Figure 26 illustrates an accessory constituting a variant of that of Figure 23; and

Figure 27 is a plan view of the accessory of Figure

26 .

With reference initially to Figures from 1 to 8, reference numeral 30 indicates a ski having a resiliently deformable structure 32 within which are formed two deformable chambers 34. The two deformable chambers 34 extend longitudinally within both the forward portion and the tail portion of the ski. In the central portion of the ski, generally intended for the fixing of the bindings, there are formed two compensation chambers 36 each of which is in fluid communication with a respective deformable chamber 34. Communication between the deformable chambers 34 and the compensation chambers 36 takes place via respective narrow passages 38 at which there is optionally provided adjustment means 40 for adjusting the flow cross-section of the passage 38.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the compensation chambers 36 are defined within respective resilient flexible and impermeable membranes 42 on the outer surface of which act resilient means, for example in the form of compression coil springs 44.

The deformable chambers 34 may also be defined within a flexible impermeable membrane 46 as illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7. Alternatively, the deformable chambers 34 may be formed by cavities within the structure 32 of the ski, rendered impermeable in various ways.

The deformable chambers 34 are filled with a damping fluid of various kind, preferably a liquid, with viscosity characteristics selected in dependence on the damping characteristics which it is desired to obtain. In the rest configuration of the ski illustrated in Figure 1 the damping fluid also partly fills the compensation chambers

36. The damping fluid may also be constituted simply by air. In this case the air can be expelled from the deformable chambers through narrow passages to the atmo¬ sphere and may be subsequently sucked in without the need for compensation chambers .

The deformable chambers 34 are disposed and formed in such a way that the variations in configuration of the structure 32 of the ski cause corresponding variations in the form of at least a part of the deformable chambers 34. This is obtained, for example, by disposing the deformable chambers 34 between two opposed surfaces 48, 50 belonging to an upper element 52 and a lower element 54 respectively forming part of the structure 32 of the ski 30. The elements 52, 54 which may, for example, be monolithic or layered sheets of composite material, are connected together by resiliently yielding flanks 56 for example of elastomeric material. In a conventional way the element 54 carries a sliding sole plate 58 of plastics material, graphite or the like, and a pair of metal edges 60.

By comparing the shape of the ski 30 in its rest condition (Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5) and in a curved configuration (Figures 2, 6, 7 and 8) it is noted that the curvature of the structure 32 causes a compression of the deformable chambers 34 between the opposed surfaces 48, 50 of the elements 52 and 54. This compression causes a general reduction in volume of the chambers - and obliges the damping fluid initially contained in chambers 34 to flow into the compensation chambers 36. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 8 this causes an increase in volume of the compensation chambers 36, which causes compression of the elastic elements 44. After release of the external forces which caused the curvature of the ski 30 the structure 32

of the ski returns to its rest configuration and allows an expansion of the deformable chambers 34. In this way the fluid contained in the compensation chambers 36 flows back into the deformable chambers 34 under the action of the resilient elements 44. This movement of the damping fluid along the deformable chambers 34 and through the passage from the deformable chambers 34 to the compensation chambers 36 extracts energy from the elastic vibration of the structure 32 and causes damping in a similar manner to that which takes place in a piston-type damper.

In the embodiment illustrated above there are provided two deformable chambers 34 independent from one another and connected to respective compensation chambers 36. This arrangement can be varied at will in dependence on the constructional requirements. For example, a single deformable chamber 34 could be provided, connected to one or more expansion chambers disposed anywhere in the structure of the ski. Three or more independent or interconnected deformable chambers could also be provided.

The deformable structure 32 of the ski 30 could also be modified in various ways with respect to that illustrated by way of example in Figures 3 to 8. For example the system according to the invention could easily be implemen¬ ted in skis with a structure of the so-called "monocoque" type one embodiment of which is schematically illustrated in Figures 9 to 14 of which Figures 9 to 11 are transverse sections of the ski in its undeformed configuration whilst Figures 12 to 14 represent the same sections in a curved or flexed configuration of the ski .

The "monocoque" structure comprises a monolithic shell 62 in which the upper element 52 and the yielding flanks 56 are defined. In Figures 11 to 14 there is illustrated an

alternative embodiment for the elastic means which coopera¬ te with the compensation chambers 36. In this embodiment, instead of a coil spring there is illustrated the use of a gas spring 64 constituted by an impermeable elastic membrane 66 filled with a highly deformable fluid for example air.

Naturally, the gas spring 64 could also be utilised in the previously-illustrated structure with reference to Figures 3 to 8. Moreover, the possibility is envisaged of provi¬ ding a weight, constituted for example by a metal plate, which acts by gravity on the compensation chamber. This weight could replace or be combined with the spring system.

In Figures 15 to 16 there is illustrated by way of example a different constructional choice for the arrangement of the expansion chambers 36. In this embodiment there are provided two deformable chambers 34a and 34b disposed in the forward or tip section and in the tail section of the ski. The chamber 34a in the forward portion communicates with two expansion chambers 36a disposed one at the tip of the ski and the other at the central section. The deforma¬ ble tail chamber 34b also communicates with two expansion chambers 36b disposed at the tail end and in the central section of the ski. Each compensation chamber 36a, 36b cooperates with an elastic element 64 constituted for example by a gas spring.

Figures 17 to 18 schematically illustrate the use of a system according to the present invention in a snowboard. In this case the greater width of the snowboard makes it possible to have available two or more deformable chambers 34 in side-by-side relationship. In the embodiment illustrated there are provided two deformable chambers 34 disposed, in plan, in a generally X-shape configuration.

The operation of the damping system is similar to that described above in relation to alpine skis .

Figures 19 to 22 illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which, in addition to the vibration damping device described above, there is provided an elastic system for regulating the rigidity and/or the rest-condition aspect of the ski. This device includes elastic means, for example in the form of a pair of flat pre-loaded springs 66, formed for example of composite material such as glass or carbon fibres . The springs 66 can be disposed alongside the membrane 46 defining the deformable chamber 34. The flat springs 66 are fixed rigidly to the central part of the equipment and rest on the front and/or rear parts thereof . The flat springs 66 can be associated with a device 68 of various type by which it is possible to adjust the free bending length of the spring 66. This adjustment translates into a variation in the flexural rigidity of the ski and likewise into a modification of the shape of the ski at rest (compare Figures 19 and 20) . This possibility of adjusting the curvature of the ski in the rest condition also makes it possible to vary the compression stroke of the deformable chambers 34 and influences the damping conditions of the system. The adjustment of the rigidity also makes available a system for reinstatement, after intensive use, of a perfect match between one ski and the other of the same pair the original rigidity or precurvatu- re of which normally declines at different rates.

Figure 23 illustrates an accessory 70 which can be fixed on to the upper surface of a ski for the purpose of reducing flexural vibrations of this latter. The accessory 70 further allows an increase in the distance between the boot and the ground like a normal spacer plate at the central portion of the ski. The accessory 70 comprises a deforma-

ble structure 72 within which are defined one or more deformable chambers 74 (two in the example of Figure 23) communicating with compensation chambers 76. In this case, too, the compensation chambers 76 also cooperate with an elastic element 78 constituted for example by a gas spring.

In use, the deformable structure 72 of the accessory 70 flexes in dependence on the deformation of the ski to which it is fixed. The deformation of the accessory 70 causes a damping thanks to the fluid movement which takes place in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described.

Figures 24 and 25 illustrate two alternative variants of the transverse section of the accessory 70. In the embodiment of Figure 24 the structure 72 of the accessory 70 has two parallel layers 80 and 82 possibly of variable cross-section, between which is disposed a membrane 84 within which is defined the deformable chamber 74. A pair of deformable flanks 86 connect the layers 80, 82 together.

In the variant of Figure 25 the deformable structure 72 of the accessory 70 has a monolithic upper body 88 with flexible sides 90 connected to a lower layer 92. A membrane 84 is also compressed between the upper body 88 and the lower layer 92.

In the other variant illustrated in Figures 26 and 27 there is illustrated an accessory 70 similar to that described hereinabove with reference to Figure 23, constituted by two separate portions 92 each of which has a deformable structure 72 within which is formed a deformable chamber 74 and a compensation chamber 76 with associated elastic means 68. A plate 94 for fixing the bindings may be interposed between the two elements 92.